Dental mouth mirror



Feb. 27, 1940.- A. P. PRESTON DENTAL MOUTH MIRROR Filed Aug. 2, 1938 -IE'. I.

Ullllmlllll lNvENToR on Af Y any Zez .Zaffms' 1 BY @um u1 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 27,1940 f *UNITED STATES .ll'l'ENT 4OFFICE y' l' I 2,192,103' Y "y lnEN'rAi.; MOUTH MrRRoa j j vAlexander P. Preston, Denver, Colo. Application August 2, 193s, serial No. .222,728

n n 1 Claim. This invention relates to that classification in equipmentand accessories yparticularly Sov-called dental Amouth mirrors, the concept being such as,y

torender its use practicable and feasible in any equivalent mouth mirror such as may be used in medical, surgical andv dental workv and in any` other line of endeavor inwhich its employmentv is found proper;` l The conventional construction employed for this purpose comprises'a longitudinally elongatedhandle of `appropriate shape and proportion, ,the same termination .at ythe Working end in an tapered shank `carrying a laterally oifset disk-like or equivalent shaped '-mirror.

tions the handle and shank are made,y as` independent units and separably adjoined for mirror.`

replacement purposes.. l

i The present invention, specifically speaking, has fory its object the provision of an assemblage ,k whereinthe shank and handle are sectional or adjoined in a one-piece formation, the shank being so constructed as to accommodate a bodilyr detachable and insertable mirror, whereby to facilitate replacement and to thereby materially minimize the expense incidenty to substituting a new mirrorwhenever necessary or desired.

More specifically, I have evolved and perfected a simple and economical replacement mirror and an adapter cup on the shank, therebeing remote A* controlledy means for latching' andv'maintaining the mirror unit in place. y*

Other features and advantages, classiable'as objects of the invention will become more `readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing'.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are em;

parts throughoutthe y ployed to designate like various views :v

Figure l'is an elevational or what may be conveni-ently called a top plan or face view ofthe improved instrument as perfected in accordance with the principles of theI presentv inventive covn`l ceptio Figure 2,'is a View partly in section and partlyv in elevation, the portions being broken away to expose the internal mechanism forming the latch control device. l

Figureis an enlarged fragmentary end View closing vthe button and associated features.`

Figure 4 is -an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional 'viewwhich may be said to be taken approximatelyon theplaneof the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure yy is va top plan view of the latch `In some construcf (Cl. 30G- 28) Aure 46;

Referring now to the drawing by distinguishing reference numerals, it will yble observed vthat the assemblage, as a whole, is broadlyA characterized (in its preferred embodiment) by' a l0l `main body' or handle unit' 8, lthere being separably attached to this a complemental shank unit 9, theshank unit 9 serving to accommodate the renewable mirror unit Ill. At this point it is lto be'explained that it isnot absolutel'yfessen- '15 tial that'the parts 8 and 9 be separate in view` of the independent'detachable mirror unit III.

Specifically, ythe handle comprisesl a straight bar preferably polygonal in `cross section, one

vend thereof being formed with a counterbo-re providing a pocket to accommodate a. coiled spring `The main bore, `which is much smaller in cross sectional dimension, serves to accommodate an adapter sleeve or tube I2, this being 4:mounted rfor reciprocation in said bore. The nger controlled end of the sleeve I2 is attached to a push f. .button yI 3, this being slidably mounted in the outer endjof Ythe socket. rvrounds thesleeve and is contained fin the socket The coiled spring surand bears jat one end against the closed` end of the socket and at its opposite end against the button. The tension .of the spring is such that lit normally projects the button to theoperating position depicted in the drawing.

v Any suitable type of coupling or separable joint l semployed at the point I 4 to adjoin the detachable shank unit to the handle unit.v Moreover, the shank unit is tapered and shaped as in any conventional dental mouth mirror. `lln the present instance, however, it is formed Then too, it is provided with a reinforced portion I5 carrying a circular shallow adapter cup or head I6 to accommodate the mirror unit I0. 'Ihis unit comprises the mirror I1 and ametal adapter 45 receptacle I8 integrally attached thereto.- The receptacle In ts telescopically in the cup I6 and is provided on its bottom with spaced Shanks or brackets I9 carrying retention hooks 2li. yThe central portion of the cup I6 is recessed as at 2I 5.0 and the cavity formation is suchlas to accommodate the bill portions of the retention hooks. Then too,` there is sufficient clearance here provided to accommodate the T-shaped latch or detent. 22 on the outer end of the push-pull wire y55 with a longif vftudinal bore registering with a bore in the handle.

23. This wire, as is obvious, runs through the -bore in the shank, through the adapter sleeve `l2 o and through a bore in the plug or button i3 where it is clenched as at 24 against the button to provide the desired assemblage of features.

mirror down against a table or the like and push.-` ing on the button against the tension of the spring Il, it is obvious that the latch becomes released u from the keeperor retention hooks 20 allowing the mirror to drop lout so thatit can'be conven-f will be seen in Figures land1 2l is provided with a'd'eep" iently replaced. As 5 the recess or cavity part for receiving the hooks 20 with a shallowerl part in rear of the deep part so that when the member 22 is moved out of engagement with the hooks it'will move into the lshallow part and 25 l'thus the specicformation of vthe-recess orcavity '2l will insure the member 22 always engaging thev hooks 20.

In practice, the lglass mirror is suitably; ce-V l mented-or otherwisev anchored in the backing frame or receptacle I8. Then too,l the whole con--A struction is of such material and the parts assembled-*with requisite precision to permit it to withstand intense moist heat for the purpose of I sterilization, as is obvious.

Briefly and broadly, the inventive concept finds its foundation in a handle and shank assemblage wherein the replaceable mirror per se is detach` ably-mounted for expeditious application and removal. Means other than the .latchcontrolled anchored in the accommodation cup I6. Thus, by turning the 1;

arrangementfmay of course come within the purview of this concept. So far as is known, however,4 it isnew to employ an interchangeable standardized mirror and to in any way separablyv and operatively support the same on the handle and shank means.l The claim is presented accordingly.

It is-thought that the description taken in `conl nection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention vto be had. f Therefore, a more lengthy description 'isfthought unnecessary. i v

While the preferred embodimenty of .the invention has been shown and described, it is to be Vunderstood that minor changes coming-within the field oiinvention claimed may be 'resorted to-` if desired. f v

I claim: o

Means for fastening one'. member in a socket in a second member comprising -a `pair of spaced hooks, each hook includingl a shank and a curved beak, one side of each shank beingfastened to; the bottom part of the rst member withthe beak extending downwardly from said bottom) the'second member having a cavitythereinopen" .ing out through the vsocket 'for `receiving said hooks, said cavity having a deep part forreceii'f`L` ing the beaks ofthe hooks and'a".'shallow` part receiving portions of the Shanks, said shallow part rhaving a bottom wall sloping upwardly from the deep part of the cavity to the end of the shallow part thereof and a slidable stem in the second.

member having a T-shaped head located in the 'y cavity and engaging the hooks, said' T-shapedhead moving into the shallow part of the cavity into contact with the sloping wall: thereof ywhen the stem is moved in a direction-tomove the head out of engagement with the hooks.

ALEXANDER P. PRESTON. l

asf' 

